How to Let a Flat in Cyprus

An owner of a flat in Cyprus can find a tenant for a year or longer, or host tourists on short stays. In the second case the flat must first be registered with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, otherwise booking platforms will not publish the listing. Rental income is taxed even for people who live abroad.

This article explains how the two ways of letting differ, which documents are needed, what taxes an owner pays and what changed in 2026. Rental returns are a separate topic, covered in our article on whether it is worth buying a condo in Cyprus to rent it out.

Short-term letting of private homes is governed by Law 34(I)/2019 on hotels and tourist accommodation. It covers a flat, house or villa let to tourists as a whole. The law sets no minimum number of nights above which registration becomes necessary.

Who registers. The owner or an operator who manages the flat. An operator needs the owner's written consent.

What is needed for registration:

Applications are processed within 2 months. The fee is €222 per property, and registration is valid for 3 years, after which it is renewed.

The registration number must appear in every listing. From 20 May 2026, EU Regulation 2024/1028 applies: platforms must check numbers and share booking data with the authorities.

Fines. Letting without registration can lead to a fine of up to €5,000 or up to a year in prison. If the owner continues after conviction, up to €200 per day. A court can also close the property.

As of May 2026, the register listed 8,464 properties. Breaches do occur: in 2026 the Audit Office sampled 150 listings in the Famagusta district and found breaches in 23 of them.

We will cover registration in more detail in our article on short-term letting in Cyprus.

Most flats in Cyprus were built after 2000. For them, freedom of contract applies: the parties agree the term, rent and conditions themselves. A contract is usually signed for 12 months, and the deposit is one or two months' rent. There is no separate law on deposits, so the terms for returning one must be written into the contract.

For older buildings completed before the end of 1999, a rent control law applies in some areas. It protects tenants who have lived in a flat for a long time:

Disputes over contracts not covered by this law go to the district court. If a tenant contests an eviction, the case can drag on for years, so the terms for leaving and for the deposit should be spelled out in detail in advance. We will cover the contract, deposit and tenant rights in our article on long-term letting in Cyprus.

"The longest disputes arise where the contract was downloaded from the internet and says nothing about returning the deposit or the notice period for leaving. A good tenancy agreement in Cyprus saves a landlord years in court," says a Limassol lawyer specialising in rental disputes.

Since 1 July 2026, rent for any property in Cyprus has had to be paid by non-cash means only: bank transfer, card or another electronic method. There is no threshold: the rule applies to any amount. A tenant who pays in cash loses the right to deduct rent from their taxable income, and the landlord breaks the law and risks a fine.

Income tax. Rental income in Cyprus is taxed on the general scale. From 2026 it is:

Owners who live abroad pay the tax too: for them, income earned in Cyprus is taxed.

Deductions for long-term letting. Owners can deduct 20% of income without providing receipts, interest on a loan used to buy the flat and 3% of the building's value per year for wear and tear.

Short-term letting. If the flat is on the register and let regularly to different guests, the income counts as business income. Actual expenses are then deducted, and with significant turnover the owner may need to register for VAT.

GeSY health system contribution. Long-term rental income is subject to 2.65%, including for non-residents. For short-term letting run as a business, the rate is best confirmed with an accountant.

The special defence contribution on rent was abolished from 1 January 2026.

Example. An owner lets a flat long-term for €1,000 a month — €12,000 a year. After the 20% deduction, taxable income is €9,600. If the owner has no other income in Cyprus, income tax is €0, leaving only the GeSY contribution. A detailed calculation will follow in our article on rental income tax in Cyprus.

From 16 March 2026 to 31 December 2027, the "Renovate–Rent" scheme is running. The owner of an empty home receives state funding for renovation and, in return, undertakes to let the flat for 4 years at an affordable rent to low- and middle-income households. Applications are accepted on the prositistegi.cy portal. The exact amounts and conditions are worth checking in the scheme's rules, as they changed between rounds.

Do I need to register to let a flat in Cyprus short-term?

Yes. The flat is registered with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, and the fee is €222 for 3 years. Without a registration number, platforms will not publish the listing.

What tax is paid on rent in Cyprus?

Income tax on the general scale: from 2026 the first €22,000 of annual income is tax-free. For long-term letting, 20% of income is deducted. The GeSY contribution of 2.65% is also paid.

Do owners who live abroad pay tax on rent?

Yes. Income from letting a flat in Cyprus is taxed in Cyprus wherever the owner lives.

Can rent be received in cash?

No. Since 1 July 2026, rent can be accepted only by bank transfer, card or another electronic method, for any amount.

If you are choosing a flat to let, look at rental demand in the area and decide in advance whether you will let it long-term or short-term. Look for options in the Cyprus-Real.Estate catalogue: flats in Cyprus and new developments.